User channel selection control for a video reciever RF modulator

Abstract

A satellite video receiver (12) for providing output signals to a television signal receiver (52) includes apparatus (10, 15, 16, 20, 45, 60, 65, 70) for operator selection of the modulator output channel frequency of the satellite receiver. The operator may select a modulator main channel, or an alternative manufacturer pre-set modulator default channel. In a first recovery mode, the operator may automatically replace an existing modulator channel with a manufacturer pre-set default channel, e.g., if a chosen main channel is forgotten. In another recovery mode, the operator may automatically re-establish a previously selected modulator main channel recalled from memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver, said video receiver including apparatus comprising: means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequencies within a band of television channel frequencies, and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input;   first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a generated channel carrier;   second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected available channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means; and   means, having an input coupled to said output of said generating means, for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal; wherein:   said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier; and   said second means selects said channel carrier from a plurality of fixed, manufacturer preselected channel carriers.   
     
     
       2. A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver, said video receiver including apparatus comprising: means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequencies within a band of television channel frequencies, and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input;   first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a generated channel carrier;   second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected available channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means; wherein   said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier;   means, having an input coupled to said output of said generating means, for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal;   means for automatically replacing a channel carrier selected by said first means with said manufacturer preselected channel carrier; and   means for automatically re-establishing a channel carrier previously selected by said first means by recalling said previously selected channel carrier from memory.   
     
     
       3. A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver, said video receiver including apparatus comprising: means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequencies within a band of television channel frequencies, and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input;   first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a generated channel carrier;   second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected available channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means wherein   said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier; and   means, having an input coupled to said output of said generating means, for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal; wherein   said second means further includes multi-function switches; and   said multi-function switches require sequential activation for selecting said manufacturer preselected channel carrier by said second means.   
     
     
       4. A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver, said video receiver including apparatus comprising: means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequencies within a band of television channel frequencies, and having a control input and an output for providing a generated channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input;   first user operated means providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a generated channel carrier;   second user operated means providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting a manufacturer preselected available channel carrier as an alternative to said channel carrier selected by said first means;   means, having an input coupled to said output of said generating means, for modulating a generated carrier selected by said first means or a carrier selected by said second means with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal; wherein   said channel carrier selected by said first user operated means is a channel carrier other than said manufacturer preselected available channel carrier; and   means for automatically re-establishing a channel carrier previously selected by said first means by recalling said previously selected channel carrier from memory.   
     
     
       5. A video signal receiver for modulating a carrier with received input information to provide a modulated output signal compatible with a television signal receiver, said video receiver including apparatus comprising: means for generating channel carriers at carrier frequencies within a band of television channel frequencies, and having a control input and an output for providing an output channel carrier in response to a control signal applied to said control input;   a user operated selection network providing a first control signal to said control input of said generating means for manually selecting an output channel carrier with a frequency other than a manufacturer preselected channel carrier frequency;   user operated means for automatically re-establishing a channel carrier previously selected by said user operated selection network by recalling said previously selected channel carrier from memory and providing a second control signal to said control input of said generating means to select said output channel carrier; and   means for modulating said output channel carrier with said received input information to provide said modulated output signal.